New Orleans awaits word on water quality

Residents and businesses in much of New Orleans awaited word on when they would no longer have to boil tap water to ensure it was safe to consume.

The mayor's office said Monday that test results to determine whether the water is contaminated were expected by mid-afternoon.

Water stopped flowing briefly Sunday for the more than 300,000 New Orleans residents on the East Bank of the Mississippi River. Pressure dropped after a problem with a generator's boiler at a water treatment plant.

Officials said the loss of pressure opened the way for possible contamination, leading to the precautionary boil advisory.

People coped in different ways. A downtown coffee shop posted signs on its doors advising that hot coffee was unavailable. It continued to serve bottled drinks and baked goods.